Vinyl acetate-alpha olefin copolymer compositions

ABSTRACT

Novel copolymer compositions containing a predominant amount of vinyl acetate copolymerized with about 1 to 20 weight percent of C7 to C20 straight chain alpha olefin and about 0.1 to 30 weight percent of at least a third comonomer are particularly useful in coating compositions, e.g., paints and adhesives.

United States Patent Isaacs et a1.

Aug. 28, 1973 VINYL ACETATE-ALPHA OLEFIN COPOLYMER COMPOSITIONS Inventors: Philip K. Isaacs, Jerusalem, Israel;

Alexander C. Paton, Bedford, Mass.

W. R. Grace & Co., Cambridge, Mass.

Filed: Mar. 15, 1971 Appl. No.: 124,540

Related us. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 106,287, Jan. 13, 1971, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.

Assignee:

' 560,784, June 27, 1966, abandoned.

U.S. C1.... 260/29.6 TA, 260/29.6 T, 260/41 A, 260/41 B, 260/41 C, 260/4l.5 A, 260/41.5 R, 260/78.5 E, 260/78.5 HC, 260/80.8l, 260/80.7, 260/87.3

Int. Cl..... C08f 29/10, C08f 29/50, C08f 45/02 Field of Search 260/29.6 T, 29.6 TA, 260/80.81, 78.5 E, 78.5 HC, 87.3, 80.7, 41 A, 41 C, 41.5 R, 41.5 A

Primary Examiner-William l-I. Short Assistant Examiner-L. M. Phynes Attorney-C. E. Parker and William L. Baker [5 7] ABSTRACT Novel copolymer compositions containing a predominant amount of vinyl acetate copolymerized with about 1 to 20 weight percent of C, to C straight chain alpha olefin and about 0.1 to 30 weight percent of at least a third comonomer are particularly useful in coating compositions, e.g., paints and adhesives.

13 Claims, No Drawings VINYL ACETATE-ALPHA OLEFIN COIOLYMER COMPOSITIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of application, Scr. No. l()6,287 filed Jan. 13, l97l, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 560,784, filed June 27, 1966, both cases now abandoned.

This invention is directed to novel copolymer compositions and more particularly to polymeric compositions which are copolymers of vinyl acetate, straight chain alpha olefin and at least a third, different olefini- Cally-unsaturated comonomer.

Copolymers of vinyl acetate have found wide use in a number of applications and particularly in the form of aqueous latices as coating compositions such as paints and adhesives. However, the inherent properties of the vinyl acetate itself require plasticization of the polymer in order to avoid the hard, brittle properties of the vinyl acetate component. Vinyl acetate copolymers have been plasticized by the use of external plasticizers such as dibutyl phthalate but the tendency of such materials to leach out from the films render them unsatisfactory for many applications. The more preferable method of plasticizing vinyl acetate polymers is by means of internal plasticizers or plasticization with comonomers such as the maleates and acrylates. However, the use of such plasticizing comonomers introduces undesirable characteristics to the polymers along with the plasticizing effects. For example, relatively high levels of alkyl acrylates must be used to achieve the desired degree of flexibility in a vinyl acetate polymeric film when used as a paint. Such comonomers also serve to alter and diminish to an undesirable extent the properties of the vinyl acetate itself.

It has now been found that by copolymerizing a relatively low amount of a straight chain alpha olefin with a predominant amount of vinyl acetate and one or more comonomers, advantageous properties can be imparted to the resulting polymer without the deficiencies of the prior art compositions.

Novel polymers of the present invention comprise from 50 to about 97, preferably about 65 to 95 weight percent of vinyl acetate, about 1 to preferably about 3 to 18, weight percent of C to C straight chain alpha olefin, and from about 0.l to 30, preferably about 0.1 to weight percent of one or more additional unlike olefinically-unsaturated comonomers, the amounts being based upon the total weight of the copolymer. The polymers are preferably prepared by conventional emulsion-polymerization procedures and employed as aqueous latices.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the vinyl acetate is employed at a level of 80 weight percent, the olefin is employed at a level of 10 weight percent and the third comonomer is an alkyl acrylate and is employed at a level of 10 weight percent. In an alternative embodiment, the olefin is present at a level of 10 weight percent and the third comonomer is a crosslinking comonomer and is present at a level ofless than 1 weight percent.

The straight chain alpha olefin component employed in the present invention may be a single alpha olefin such as decene-l or a mixture such as is prepared by conventional methods, e.g., by wax cracking or by ethylene telomerization. It should be understood that minor amounts of impurities may be present in the alpha olefin mixtures such as branched chain olefins, internal olefins, conjugated and non-conjugated diolefins, naphthenic hydrocarbons and saturated hydrocarbons.

As examples of comonomers which may be copoly' merized with the vinyl acetate and the alpha olefin, mention may be made of the following:

a. Monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbons, such as styrene, p-methylstyrene, alpha-methylstyrene, m' ethylstyrene, p-fluorostyrene, o-chlorostyrene, 2,6- dichlorostyrene, m-trif'luoromethylstyrene, 0- cyanostyrene, m-nitrostyrene, p-nitrostyrene, vinyl naphthalene, and the like.

b. Alpha, beta-olefinically unsaturated nitriles such as acrylonitrile, rnethacrylonitrile, a-cliloroacryloni trile, a-trifluoromethyl-acrylonitrile, and the like.

c. Mono-olefinically-unsaturated carboxylic acid, especially alpha, beta-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids, for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, cinnamic acid, alpha-chloroacrylic acid, atropic acid, alpha-fluoroacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid and the like.

d. Esters of mono-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids, for example, alkyl acrylates and methacrylates such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, isopropyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, n-amyl acrylate, isoamyl acrylate, n-hexyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, n-octyl acrylate, n-decyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, ethyl methac' rylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, namyl methacrylate, 2-etl1ylhexyl methacrylate, n-octyl methacrylate, n-decyl methacrylate, cyanoethyl acrylate, cyanobutyl acrylate, diethylarninoethyl acrylate, esters of dicarboxylic acids such as monoisopropyl maleate, mono-Z-ethylhexyl maleate, mono-n-butyl fumarate, dibutyl maleate, diethyl maleate and diethyl fumarate, and the like.

e. Amides of acrylic acid such as acrylamide, N- methyl acrylamide, N-phenyl acrylamide, N,N- dimethyl acrylamide, N,N-dibutylacrylamide and the like.

f. Vinyl esters of carboxylic acids such as vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl benzoate, and the like.

g. Vinyl ethers such as vinyl isobutyl ether, vinyl decyl ether, and the like.

h. Vinyl halides such as vinyl chloride, vinyl fluoride, vinylidene chloride and the like.

i. Cross-linking monomers such as triallyl cyanurate, diethylene-glycoldiacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate and dienes such as l,4-pentadiene and 1,7- octadiene, and the like.

The novel copolymers of the present invention are preferably prepared by emulsion polymerization methods. In one embodiment, the water and two-thirds of the amount of emulsifying agent plus a stabilizing polymer are preheated and blanketed with nitrogen. The buffer solution and 15 percent of the total activator employed is then added. The monomer mix, which also includes the remainder of the emulsifier and the catalyst, are then added at a constant rate. After the addition of the monomer blend is begun, the remainder of the activator solution is added at a constant rate. After all the monomer has been added to the reaction vessel, several incremental additions of catalyst are made.

The following non-limiting example illustrates the preparation of novel copolymers of the present invention.

EXAMPLE A Precook Wt.% Nonylphenoxypoiy(ethyleneoxy)ethanol 1.88 Hydroxyethyl cellulose 0.23 Water 38.86

Monomer Blend Monomers 53.36 Nonylphenoxypoly(ethyleneoxyjtethanol 1.0 Tertiary butyl hydroperoxide 0.19 Buffer Solution Sodium bicarbonate (10% solution) 0.60 Catalyst System Ferric chloride solution (1% fern'c 0.0026 solution) i Sodium fonnaldehyde sulfoxylate 4.62

Tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (to he added in six equal portions) 0.16

The precook mixture was heated to 90 C. and maintained at this temperature for one hour and blanketed added. The addition of the monomer blend was then started at a rate such that three hours would be required for the addition of the monomer blend. After the addition of the monomer had begun, the remainder ofthe sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate was added at a rate such that 6 h hours would be required for addition. After all the monomer had been added, the temperature was maintained at about 70 C. for one hour. Six equal amounts of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide was then made at half-hour intervals. After the sixth addition, the reaction was terminated.

Tables 1 and 2 below illustrate several vinyl acetatelalpha olefin/mono-ethylenically unsaturated monomercopolymers of the present invention prepared according to the procedure of Example A. The levels of monomers reported are on a weight basis and are based on the total monomeric composition of the copolymers.

TABLE 1 Mono-2 Olefin ethy1- Ex- Vinyl hexyl ample Peracemaleate Solids Conversion No cent Type late (percent) (percent) (percent) 1 CrCir 94.7 0.3 56.1 99.0 2 7.5 C7-C9 92.2 .3 54.3 97.0 3 1O C1-C1) 89.7 .3 47.0 84.0 4 CQ'CH, 89.7 .3 52.4 93.5 5 7.5 C,,-Cm 92.2 .3 51.0 91.5 6 5 C11 C15 94.7 .3 55.5 99.0 7 10 C11 C1.') 89.7 .3 54.8 98.0 8 1l C15 84.7 .3 51.6 92.5 9 5 C -C2 94.7 .3 52.8 94.0 10 10 CHI-C 89.7 .3 51.2 92.8

TABLE2 Olefin Comonomer A Ex- Mono-2 ample Per- Vinyl Perethylhexyl Solids Conversion No. cent Type acetate cent Type maleate (percent) (percent) 11 5 C C,. 89.7 5 Z-ethylhexyl- 0.3 54.4 97.5 acrylate 12 10 CrCy 34.7 5 Z-ethylhexyl- .3 44.2 79.0 acrylate 13 5 C -C9 89.7 5 dibutylmaleate .3 51.2 91.5 14 10 C C 84.7 5 dibutylmaleate .3 49.6 89.0 15 5 CFC 89.7 5 Z-ethylhexyl- .3 56.2 99.0

v acrylate 16 10 (In-Cu 84.7 5 Z-ethylhexyl- .3 53.8 96.0 acrylate 17 10 C,,C,, 79.7 10 Z-ethylhexyl .3 54.6 97.5 acrylate 18 10 (In-C, 69.7 20 2-eihy1hexyl- .3 45.7 81.7

acrylale 19 10 C,,-C., 79.7 10 dibutylmaleate .3 53.4 95.5

with nitrogen. The temperature was then lowered to C. and the buffer solution, the ferric chloride, and 15 percent of the sodium formaldehyde sulfoxyiate was in a preferred embodiment, the copolymers of the present invention are prepared according to the following procedure:

1% Ferric Chloride Solution 0.037cc per 100 grams monomer The emulsifier system is placed in a reaction vessel added and the sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate is added at a rate such that three hours are required for the addition. The tertiary butyl hydroperoxide is then added in 10 equal parts at minute intervals. The temperature is then raised to 90 to 95 C. and maintained at this temperature for about one hour after which the reaction mixture was cooled.

The following tables illustrate copolymers of the present invention prepared according to the procedure 10 of Example B.

In the past, it was believed that the glass transition temperature of a polymer had to be lower than the minimum film formation temperature in order to obtain film. An examination of the art would lead one to 15 believe that the polymers of the present invention should not form films at temperatures less than room temperature, since the glass transition temperatures of TABLE 3 Olefin Comonomer A X- Acrylample Per Vinyl Peramide Solids Conversion No. cent Type acetate cent Type (percent) (percent) (percent) 5 C -C 71.7 23 Dibutyl maleate 0.3 52.5 94.5 21 5 C,,-C,, 76.7 [8 Dibutyl maleate .3 52.5 94.5 22 10 C,,-C, 66.7 23 Dibutyl maleate .3 5l.7 93.0 23 5 C,,C, 76.7 18 Dibutyl maleate .3 55.3 99.0 24 7.5 C9-C1" 91.95 0.25 Acrylic Acid .3 53.7 96.5 25 7.5 C C 9l.7 0.50 Acrylic Acid .3 53.0 95.5

and the temperature is raised to about 70 to 75 C. TABLE 4 When the temperature is attained, the potassium per- Examme No. 26 27 28 sulfate and the addition of the monomer blend is begun O! fin c c 5 5 5 at such a rate that the addition time requires 3 to 3 and 35 43: 2a -3; h hours. After the addition of the monomers, the tem- Acryliyc Add 025 050 L0 perature is raised to reflux. One hour after the mono- Acrylamide 0.3 0.3 0.3 Solids 54.7 53.0 53.3 mers have been added, the ferric chloride solution 15 Conversion 98A 955 917 TABLE 5 Example No. 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Olefin:

Percent 9.5 10 9.0 9.0 8.5 9.0 18.0 9.0 9.0 Type Car Cw sFCro Ctr m 9 lt) CarCm C9-C1" C9 Cl0 C7-C2) ll l-'r Vinyl Acetate 85.2 89.45 80.7 80.7 76.2 80.45 71.45 80.45 80.7 Ethyl Acrylate 5 l0 l5 Butyl Acrylate l0 10 l0 l0 l0 Acrylic Acid 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 Acrylamide 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Percent Solids 4 l .75 43.55 44.2 42.6 43.2 42.8 36.6 41.6 42.4 Percent Conversion 93.4 97.44 98.9 95.5 96 0 95.0 8L0 92.5 94.l

TABLE 6 Example N0. 38 39 40 4| 42 43 Olefin:

Percent 10 9 l0 l0 l0 9 Type CeF' w !I it| al m n |0 ll l0 li' m Vinyl Acetate 90 81 85 89 89.75 8| ButylAcrylate 10 W Styrene 5 Triallyl cyanurate 0.25 Fumaric Acid 1.0

Vinyl Versatate 10 Percent Solids 43.40 43.50 7.20 42.10 43.40 54.0 Percent Conversion 96.10 96.20 16.00 93.5 96. l 0 98.2

*VVlO Vinyl Monomer of Shell Chemical Company. New York. New York. (Vinyl ester ofa saturated tertiary alkyl carboxylic acid containing l0 carbon atoms.)

the polymers of the present invention generally run somewhat less than 20 C. However, it has unexpectedl y been found that film consolidation occurs at temperatures below the glass transition temperature. In

about 37 percent less than provided by a lesser amount of olefin.

While the polymers described in the foregoing examples have employed the preferred alpha olefin fracsome cases, the difference between the glass transition 5 tions, i.e., mixture of alkenes, it should be understood temperature and the minimum film formation temperathat individual alpha olefins such as nonene-l octeneture is as much as l7 C. l, and decene-l are also employed satisfactorily in pro- Cross-linking monomers are particularly preferred as ducing polymers within the scope of the present invencomonomers in the present invention. Polymers contion. Representative examples of such polymers are set taining such comonomers are particularly suitable for l forth in Table 9. use in paint and other coating compositions to impart T bl 9 scrub resistance. Table 7 illustrates polymers of the a 6 present invention wherein cross-linking comonomers Example No. 57 58 are employed. The polymers were prepared in accor- X22133? 3:; 3:; dance with the procedure of Example B. The term D q 0 cross-linking monomer as used herein is intended to gfa' 'f 3 2 refer to comonomers which provide a cross-linked 1;, Conversion Q84 969 structure with vinyl acetate and alpha olefin and which contain a plurality of functional groups such as olefini- As mentioned above, the copolymer composition of cally-unsaturated groups or methylol groups. the invention is particularly useful in the form of an TABLE 7 Example No. 44 45 46 47 48 49 5O 51 52 Vinyl Acetate 89.9 89.75 89.75 89.75 89.75 89.75 94.875 94.75 94.5 'rcem 10 I0 10 I0 10 10 5 5 5 TYPE tr m n |u fi |ll Ii l(| s' m IS HI 59- l0 sF ln 5l l0 Triallyl cyanurate 0.1 0.125 0.125 Diethyleneglycoldiacrylate 0.25 0.125 Trimethylolpropanetriacrylate 0.25 l ,4- pentadiene 0.25 l,7-octadiene 0.25 0.25 0.50 Percent Solids 44.4 53.4 52.6 53.5 53.6 53.0 54.6 54.7 54.1 Percent Conversion 98.6 97.0 95.6 97.3 97.4 96.5 99.2 99.3 98.5

it was stated above that the employment of the aqueous latex in coating compositions such as aqueous straight chain alpha olefin in the present invention probased paints and adhesives. In use in aqueous based vides compositions with a high degree of plasticity paints, the copolymer composition provides films of exwithout the deficiencies of prior art plasticizers. The cellent flexibility characteristics. Such aqueous based following table illustrates the unexpected, efficient,and paints generally comprise water in which pigment, for particularly advantageous plasticizing characteristics of example, titanium dioxide, lithopone or zinc oxide and the compositions of the present invention as compared h rm g r hi copolymer composition of with rior art compositions. All samples were prepared he in n i n ar i pers The m n o pigm n by the procedure of Example B and the elongation, as and film-forming ingredient or binder can vary widely a measure of flexibility was determined on an [nstron ac ording to the SPECIfl CiIIgI'CdIEHtS employed and the device at 75 F. at an elongation rate of 200 percent per end use Of e comp ltion. ln the paint art, composiminute on a dumben shaped sample wherein h tion is conventionally expressed in terms of the ratio of ponent stretched was 1 inch long andl.25 inch wide. Pigment y Volume to the total Volume of the volatile components present in the composition (PVC). TABLE 8 Thus an aqueous based paint composition employing 5O v u Acryithe film-forming copolymer of the invention as the Acetate amide binder component may generally contain say about 10 3 Eig Common!" 'Zf; to 70 percent by volume of pigment (including extend- 53 89.7 -3 I095 CFCIG Olefin 176% ers as mentioned below) based on the total volume of 54 Dibmy' W5"; 55 the non-volatiles (pigment plus binder copolymer). Ob- 55 69.7 0.3 30% Dibutyl maieaie i02% viously the amount of water can vary widely, often any- 56 03 16% z-iilhylhexyl where between 10 and 70 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the paint. In all cases, an amount of From Table 8, above, it can be seen that an olefin the binder copolymer is employed which is at least sufemployed at the 10 weight percent level imparts vastly 60 fi ient to form a film upon drying. superior flexibility characteristics to films than does It is the general practice to include any one or more considerably greater amounts of prior art plasticizing of several optional additional ingredients in such aquecomonomers. Dibutyl maleate at the 10 percent level ous based paints. For example, the paint compositions provides substantially no elongation while at the 30 can include extenders such as mica, talc, china clay, percent level, an elongation of about 102 percent is barium sulphate, calcium carbonate, dolomite,calcium achieved. Even 16 percent of a highly efficient comonomer, Z-ethylhexyl acrylate, provides an elongation silicate, silica, diatomaceous earth, etc. Color may be provided through the use of organic pigments, iron oxide, chromic oxide, carbon black, sienna, umber, ochre, etc.

Aqueous based paints usually also include a variety of wetting or dispersing agents, such as polyphosphates, pyrophosphates, anionic and non-ionic surfactants, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, etc. Additional optional ingredients further include freeze-thaw stabilizers such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and nonionic surfactants; preservatives such as organomercuric and organo-tin compounds, alkylated, halogenated or arylated phenols and their derivatives, antibiotics and many others. Still further optional ingredients include foam breakers suh as silicones, ditertiary acetylenic glycols, long-chain ethylene oxide condensates, tributyl phosphate, pine oil and higher aliphatic alcohols. Starch,casein, methyl cellulose, hydroxy ethyl cellulose, vegetable gum, etc. are also conventionally employed in aqueous based paints.

The following is a detailed, non-limiting example illustrating the use of a copolymer of the invention as the film-forming or binder component in an aqueous based paint:

Example C Ingredients Parts by Weight 1. Water 1 10.0 2. Tamol 73l, 25% (sodium salt of carboxylated anionic surface active agent) 8.4 3. lgepol CTA 639 (Alkylphenylethylene oxide adduct) 1.5 4. Tetrapotassium pyrophosphate 1.0 5. Polyglycol P-l200 (polypropylene glycol) 2.0 6. Mersolite 90 (phenylmercuric borate) 0.5 7. Methocel solution, 3% (methyl cellulose; 65

HG, 4000 D6) 70.0 8. Titanox RANC (titanium dioxide) 200.0 9. Snowflake White (calcium carbonate 100.0 10. Mica, 325 mesh 30.0 1 1. Water 26.0 12. Foamicide 58l-B (Colloids Inc.) 1.0 13. Carbitol Acetate (acetate of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether 20.0 14. Water 20.0 15. Methocel solution, 3% 68.5 16. Latex prepared as in Example 8 above containing 93 percent vinyi acetate, 4

percent of nonene-l and 3 percent butyl acrylate 394.0 17. Ethylene glycol 40.0

We claim:

1. A copolymer consisting of 50 to about 97 percent by weight vinyl acetate copolymerized with about 1 to 20 percent by weight of C to C straight chain alpha olefin and about 0.1 to 30 percent by weight of at least a third unlike copolymerizable olefinically unsaturated monomer, said third unlike monomer being selected from the group consisting of monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbons; alpha, beta olefinically unsaturated nitriles; mono-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids; alkyl, cyano, and amino esters of mono-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids; amides of acrylic acid; vinyl esters of carboxylic acids; vinyl ethers; vinyl halides; and cross-linking monomers selected from the group consisting of triallyl cyanurate, diethyleneglycoldiacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, 1,4-pentadiene and 1,7-octadiene.

2. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein said alpha olefin comprises a C to C alpha olefin fraction.

3. A copolymer consisting of about 65 to 95 percent by weight vinyl acetate copolymerized with about 3 to 18 percent by weight of C to straight chain alpha olefin and about 0.1 to 25 percent by weight of at least a third unlike copolymerizable olefinically unsaturated monomer,said third unlike monomer being selected from the group consisting of styrene, acrylic acid, fumaric acid, acrylamide, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, Z-ethylhexylacrylate, mono-2-ethylhexyl maleate, dibutyl maleate, triallyl cyanurate, diethyleneglycoldiacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,7-octadiene, and a vinyl ester of a saturated tertiary alkyl carboxylic acid.

4. A copolymer consisting of a C to C straight chain alpha olefin copolymerized with a predominant amount of vinyl acetate and at least a third unlike monomer which is selected from the group consisting of triallyl cyanurate, diethyleneglycoldiacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, 1,7-octadiene and 1,4- pentadiene, said olefin being present in an amount of about 1 to 20 percent by weight and said third monomer being present in an amount of less than 1 percent by weight.

5. A latex coating composition comprising water and dispersed therein a film-forming amount ofa polymeric component said component consisting of to about 97 percent by weight vinyl acetate copolymerized with about I to 20 percent by weight of C to C straight chain alpha olefin and about 0.1 to 30 percent by weight of at least a third unlike copolymerizable olefinically unsaturated monomer, said third unlike monomer being selected from the group consisting of monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbons; alpha, beta-olefinically unsaturated nitriles; mono-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids; alkyl, cyano, and amino esters of monoolefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids; amides of acrylic acid; vinyl esters of carboxylic acids; vinyl ethers; vinyl halides; and cross-linking monomers selected from the group consisting of triallyl cyanurate, diethyleneglycoldiacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, 1,4-pentadiene and l,7-octadiene.

6. The composition of claim 5 wherein the amount of said vinyl acetate present ranges from about to percent by weight, the amount of said olefin present ranges from about 3 to 18 percent by weight and the amount of said third monomer ranges from about 0.1 to 25 percent by weight.

7. A latex coating composition comprising water and dispersed therein a film-forming amount of a polymeric component, said component consisting of 50 to about 97 percent by weight vinyl acetate copolymerized with about 1 to 20 percent by weight of C to C straight chain alpha olefin and about 0.1 to 30 percent by weight of at least a third unlike copolymerizable olefinically unsaturated monomer.

8. The coating composition of claim 7 wherein said alpha olefin comprises a C to C alpha olefin fraction.

9. The composition of claim 7 wherein said third monomer is a cross-linking monomer containing a plurality of olefinically unsaturated groups of methyloi groups and is present in an amount of less than 1 percent by weight.

10. The composition of claim 5 wherein said third unlike monomer is selected from the group consisting of styrene, acrylic acid, fumaric acid, acrylamide, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexylacrylate, mono-2- ethylhexyl maleate, dibutyl maleate, triallyl cyanurate, diethyleneglycoldiacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,7-octadiene, and a vinyl ester of a saturated tertiary alkyl carboxylic acid.

11. A latex coating composition comprising water and dispersed therein pigment and a film-forming amount of a polymeric component, said polymeric component consisting of about 65 to 95 percent by weight vinyl acetate copolymerized with about 3 to 18 percent by weight of C to C straight chain alpha oletin and about 0.1 to percent by weight of at least a third unlike copolymerizable olefinically unsaturated monomer.

12. An aqueous latex paint composition comprising water and dispersed therein pigment and a film-forming amount of a polymeric component, said polymeric component consisting of about 50 to 97 percent by weight vinyl acetate copolymerized with about 1 to 20 percent by weight of C to C straight chain alpha olefin and about 0.1 to percent by weight of at least a third unlike copolymerizable olefinically unsaturated monomer, said pigment being present in an amount of about 10 to percent by volume, based on the total volume of non-volatile materials in the paint composition.

13. The paint composition of claim 12 wherein said third unlike monomer is selected from the group consisting of styrene, acrylic acid, fumaric acid, acrylamide, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, Z-ethylhexylacrylate, mono-Z-ethylhexyl maleate, dibutyl maleate, triallyl cyanurate, diethyleneglycoldiacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, 1,4-pentadiene, l,7-octadiene, and a vinyl ester of a saturated tertiary alkyl carboxylic acid. 

2. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein said alpha olefin comprises a C9 to C10 alpha olefin fraction.
 3. A copolymer consisting of about 65 to 95 percent by weight vinyl acetate copolymerized with about 3 to 18 percent by weight of C7 to c20 straight chain alpha olefin and about 0.1 to 25 percent by weight of at least a third unlike copolymerizable olefinically unsaturated monomer,said third unlike monomer being selected from the group consisting of styrene, acrylic acid, fumaric acid, acrylamide, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexylacrylate, mono-2-ethylhexyl maleate, dibutyl maleate, triallyl cyanurate, diethyleneglycoldiacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,7-octadiene, and a vinyl ester of a saturated tertiary alkyl carboxylic acid.
 4. A copolymer consisting of a C7 to C20 straight chain alpha olefin copolymerized with a predominant amount of vinyl acetate and at least a third unlike monomer which is selected from the group consisting of triallyl cyanurate, diethyleneglycoldiacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, 1,7-octadiene and 1,4-pentadiene, said olefin being present in an amount of about 1 to 20 percent by weight and said third monomer being present in an amount of less than 1 percent by weight.
 5. A latex coating composition comprising water and dispersed therein a film-forming amount of a polymeric component said component consisting of 50 to about 97 percent by weight vinyl acetate copolymerized with about 1 to 20 percent by weight of C7 to C20 straight chain alpha olefin and about 0.1 to 30 percent by weight of at least a third unlike copolymerizable olefinically unsaturated monomer, said third unlike monomer being selected from the group consisting of monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbons; alpha, beta-olefinically unsaturated nitriles; mono-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids; alkyl, cyano, and amino esters of mono-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids; amides of acrylic acid; vinyl esters of carboxylic acids; vinyl ethers; vinyl halides; and cross-linking monomers selected from the group consisting of triallyl cyanurate, diethyleneglycoldiacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, 1,4-pentadiene and 1,7-octadiene.
 6. The composition of claim 5 wherein the amount of said vinyl acetate present ranges from about 65 to 95 percent by weight, the amount of said olefin present ranges from about 3 to 18 percent by weight and the amount of said third monomer ranges from about 0.1 to 25 percent by weight.
 7. A latex coating composition comprising water and dispersed therein a film-forming amount of a polymeric component, said component consisting of 50 to about 97 percent by weight vinyl acetate copolymerized with about 1 to 20 percent by weight of C7 to C20 straight chain alpha olefin and about 0.1 to 30 percent by weight of at least a third unlike copolymerizable olefinically unsaturated monomer.
 8. The coating composition of claim 7 wherein said alpha olefin comprises a C9 to C10 alpha olefin fraction.
 9. The composition of claim 7 wherein said third monomer is a cross-linking monomer containing a plurality of olefinically unsaturated groups of methylol groups and is present in an amount of less than 1 percent by weight.
 10. The composition of claim 5 wherein said third unlike monomer is selected from the group consisting of styrene, acrylic acid, fumaric acid, acrylamide, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexylacrylate, mono-2-ethylhexyl maleate, dibutyl maleate, triallyl cyanurate, diethyleneglycoldiacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,7-octadiene, and a vinyl ester of a saturated tertiary alkyl carboxylic acid.
 11. A latex coating composition comprising water and dispersed therein pigment and a film-forming amount of a polymeric component, said polymeric component consisting of about 65 to 95 percent by weight vinyl acetate copolymerized with about 3 to 18 percent by weight of C7 to C20 straight chain alpha olefin and about 0.1 to 25 percent by weight of at least a third unlike copolymerizable olefinically unsaturated monomer.
 12. An aqueous latex paint composition comprising water and dispersed therein pigment and a film-forming amount of a polymeric component, said polymeric component consisting of about 50 to 97 percent by weight vinyl acetate copolymerized with about 1 to 20 percent by weight of C7 to C20 straight chain alpha olefin and about 0.1 to 30 percent by weight of at least a third unlike copolymerizable olefinically unsaturated monomer, said pigment being present in an amount of about 10 to 70 percent by volume, based on the total volume of non-volatile materials in the paint composition.
 13. The paint composition of claim 12 wherein said third unlike monomer is selected from the group consisting of styrene, acrylic acid, fumaric acid, acrylamide, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexylacrylate, mono-2-ethylhexyl maleate, dibutyl maleate, triallyl cyanurate, diethyleneglycoldiacrylate, trimethylolpropanetriacrylate, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,7-octadiene, and a vinyl ester of a saturated tertiary alkyl carboxylic acid. 